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Redox Reactions

Submitted by ChemPRIME Staff on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 14:25

In addition to precipitation and acid-base reactions, a third important class called oxidation-reductionThat part of a chemical reaction in which a reactant gains electrons; simultaneous oxidation of a reactant must occur. reactions is often encountered in aqueous solutions. The terms reduction and oxidation are usually abbreviated to redox. Such a reaction corresponds to the transfer of electrons from one species to another.

A simple redox reactionAn oxidation-reduction reaction; the term &quot;redox&quot; is obtained from the first few letters of &quot;reduction&quot; and &quot;oxidation.&quot; occurs when copper metalAn element characterized by a glossy surface, high thermal and electrical conductivity, malleability, and ductility. is immersed in a solution of silver nitrate. The solution gradually acquires the blue color characteristic of the hydrated Cu2+ ion, while the copper becomes coated with glittering silver crystals. The reaction may be described by the net ionic equationThe equation for a reaction in which strong electrolytes are written as their separate component ions and in which species that are unchanged are omitted.

Cu(s) + 2Ag+(aq) → Cu2+(aq) + 2Ag(s) (1)

We can regard this equation as being made up from two hypothetical half-equations. In one, each copper atom loses 2 electrons:

Cu → Cu2+ + 2e– (1a)

while in the other, 2 electrons are acquired by 2 silver ions:

2e– + 2Ag+ → 2Ag (1b)

If these two half-equations are added, the net result is Eq. (1). In other words, the reaction of copper with silver ions, described by Eq. (1), corresponds to the loss of electrons by the copper metal, as described by half- equation (1a), and the gain of electrons by silver ions, as described by Eq. (1b).

A species like copper which donates electrons in a redox reaction is called a reducing agentA chemical species that donates electrons in order to reduce another species. In the process the reducing agent is itself oxidized., or reductant. (A mnemonic for remembering this is remember, electron donor = reducing agent.) When a reducing agent donates electrons to another species, it is said to reduce the species to which the electrons are donated. In Eq. (1), for example, copper reduces the silver ion to silver. Consequently the half-equation

2Ag+ + 2e– → 2Ag

is said to describe the reduction of silver ions to silver.

Species which accept electrons in a redox reaction are called oxidizing agents, or oxidants. In Eq. (1) the silver ion, Ag+, is the oxidizing agent. When an oxidizing agent accepts electrons from another species, it is said to oxidize that species, and the process of electron removal is calledoxidationThat part of a chemical reaction in which a reactant loses electrons; simultaneous reduction of a reactant must occur.. The half-equation

Cu → Cu2+ + 2e–

thus describes the oxidation of copper to Cu2+ ion.

In summary, then, when a redox reaction occurs and electrons are transferred, there is always a reducing agent donating electrons and an oxidizing agent to receive them. The reducing agent, because it loses electrons, is said to be oxidized. The oxidizing agent, because it gains electrons, is said to be reduced.

Copper is also oxidized by the oxygen present in air. The following video shows an example of this oxidation occurring. It also demonstrates how this oxidation can be reversed by using hydrogen gasA state of matter in which a substance occupies the full volume of its container and changes shape to match the shape of the container. In a gas the distance between particles is much greater than the diameters of the particles themselves; hence the distances between particles can change as necessary so that the matter uniformly occupies its container..

This option will not workA mechanical process in which energy is transferred to or from an object, changing the state of motion of the object. correctly. Unfortunately, your browser does not support inline frames.

EXAMPLE 1 Write the following reaction in the form of half-equations. Identify each half-equation as an oxidation or a reduction. Also identify the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in the overall reaction

Zn + 2Fe3+ → Zn2+ + 2Fe2+

Solution The half-equations are

Zn → Zn2+ + 2e– oxidation—loss of electrons

2e– + 2Fe3+ → 2Fe2+ reduction—gain of electrons

Since zinc metal (Zn) has donated electrons, we can identify it as the reducing agent. Conversely, since iron(III) ion (Fe3+) has accepted electrons, we identify it as the oxidizing agent. An alternative method of identification is to note that since zinc has been oxidized, the oxidizing agent must have been the other reactantA substance consumed by a chemical reaction., namely, iron(III). Also, since the iron(III) ion has been reduced, the zinc must be the reducing agent. Observe also that both the oxidizing and reducing agents are the reactants and therefore appear on the left-hand side of an equation.

A more complexA central metal and the ligands surrounding it; also called coordination complex. redox reaction occurs when copper dissolves in nitric acid. The acid attacks the metal vigorously, and large quantities of the red-brown gas, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are evolved. (NO2 is poisonous, and so this reaction should be done in a hood.) The solution acquires the blue color characteristic of the hydrated Cu2+ ion. The reaction which occurs is

Cu + 2NO3– + 4H3O+ → Cu2+ + 2NO2 + 6H2O (2)

Merely by inspecting this net ionic equation, it is difficult to see that a transfer of electrons has occurred. Clearly the copper metal has lost electrons and been oxidized to Cu2+, but where have the donated electrons gone? The matterAnything that occupies space and has mass; contrasted with energy. becomes somewhat clearer if we break up Eq. (2) into half- equations. One must be

Cu → Cu2+ + 2e– (2a)

and the other is

2e– + 4H3O+ + 2NO3– + → 2NO2 + 6H2O (2b)

You can verify that these are correct by summing them to obtain Eq. (2).

The second half-equation shows that each NO3– ion has not only accepted an electron, but it has also accepted two protons. To further complicate matters, a nitrogen-oxygen bond has also been broken, producing a water moleculeA set of atoms joined by covalent bonds and having no net charge.. With all this reshuffling of nuclei and electrons, it is difficult to say whether the two electrons donated by the copper ended up on an NO2 molecule or on an H2O molecule. Nevertheless, it is still meaningful to call this a redox reaction. Clearly, copper atomsThe smallest particle of an element that can be involved in chemical combination with another element; an atom consists of protons and neutrons in a tiny, very dense nucleus, surrounded by electrons, which occupy most of its volume. have lost electrons, while a combination of hydronium ions and nitrate ions have accepted them. Accordingly, we can refer to the nitrate ion (or nitric acid, HNO3) as the oxidizing agent in the overall reaction. Half-equation (2b) is a reduction because electrons are accepted.

Diigolet

Term of the Day

A unitA particular measure of a physical quantity that is used to express the magnitude of the physical quantity; for example, the meter is the unit of the physical quantity, length. for expressing the relative masses of atomsThe smallest particle of an element that can be involved in chemical combination with another element; an atom consists of protons and neutrons in a tiny, very dense nucleus, surrounded by electrons, which occupy most of its volume.; abbreviated amuAbbreviation for atomic mass unit, a unit for expressing the relative masses of atoms. An atom of carbon-12 has a mass of 12 amu. 1 amu corresponds to 1.662x10-24 g.. An atom of carbon-12 has a mass of 12 amu. 1 amu corresponds to 1.662x10-24 g.

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